FAGUS BLAIRII, 1. Kirk. 
BLAIR'’S BEECH. 
Orper—CUPULIFERAL. 
(Plate LVTII.) 
Facus Brartru has until recently been confused with Fagus Solandri, and was 
first described in ‘‘ The Transactions of the New Zealand Institute’’ for 1884, 
although observed by the writer ten years earlier.* 
It forms a handsome evergreen trec, 4oft. to 6oft. high or more, making 
some approach to the habit of the European beech (F, sylvatica) in its ascending 
branches and ramification. The leaves are spreading, from #in. to #in. in 
length, din. to din. broad, and carried on short leaf-stalks; they are quite entire, 
of thick texture, rounded at the base, and usually with a minute point projecting 
beyond the apex of the blade. The under-surface is clothed with a dense coat- 
ing of yellowish-brown hairs. 
The flowers have not been collected, but the involucral cup is divided nearly 
to the base into four segments, with broad membranous margins and tips, and 
carrying one or two small transverse scales near the base. The nuts are three- 
winged. 
It is distinguished from Fagus Solandri by the more open habit, the larger, 
broader leaves, fulvous pubescence, and especially by the larger involucral cup, 
which is four-lobed. 
The trunk is from 2ft. to 3ft. in diameter. 
Properties AND Uses. 
The timber bears considerable resemblance to that of the entire-leaved 
beech, but is less stout in the grain. I[t has been converted at sawmills on Lake 
Wakatipu, but there is no evidence respecting its durability. 
DisTRIBUTION. 
Fagus Blaivit has been observed near Waimarino, and in one or two other 
localities in the central portion of the North Island; in the upper part of the 
Wairau Valley, near the source of the Buller River, and the valley of the Little 
Grey, in the Nelson District; mountains above Lake Ohau, Canterbury 
(J. Buchanan) ; mountains above Martin’s Bay (J. Buchanan); [ive Rivers 
Plain (W. N. Blair); head of Lake Wakatipu and valley of the Dart, Otago 
(T. Kirk). It does not extend to Stewart Island. 
It descends to about 1,10oft. above sca-level, and ascends to about 2,300ft. 
DESCRIPTION, 
Fagus Blairi, T. Kirk. 
An evergreen tree, 4oft. to 6oft. high, with trunk 2ft. to 3{t. in diameter. 
Young twigs and petioles puberulous. Leaves alternate, shortly petioled, 
25 
* Trans. N.Z, Inst., xvii., p. 297, t. xvi. 
